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Video Games

Wii Bowling Ball Guarantees Living Room Carnage

Over the years, the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo has witnessed numerous introductions of Nintendo consoles and related peripherals (notably, the debut of the Wii in 2004). This year's convention, held in early June, was no different, according to OhGizmo!, with the unveiling of an accessory for one of the Wii's oldest and most popular titles, 'Wii Sports.'

CTA Digital has released a new Wii bowling ball. This shouldn't come as a surprise given the long history of ridiculous, worthless, and sometimes-remarkably-ahead-of-their-time peripherals for Nintendo systems (remember the Power Glove?). The ball splits in half to reveal storage space for the Wiimote, and, according to CTA, enables players to "mimic all the critical motions." We're anxiously awaiting the inevitable YouTube videos of flat-screen destruction.

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Video Games, Editor's Picks

There's Nothing Casual About 'Casual Games'



This year's E3 has come and gone, and one of the overriding themes of the annual video game convention earlier this month was the use of motion controls in games to further immerse the player, but more importantly, to make games simpler, more intuitive, and less intimidating for "non-gamers." Nintendo entered this space several years ago with its monstrously popular Wii console, and both Microsoft and Sony debuted their camera-based systems last week. While each company's technology is impressive for its own reasons, the more significant trend to us is simply how physical games are becoming.

For instance, Microsoft's presentation for its Project Natal motion system showed players driving cars, riding a skateboard, and painting pictures on a wall sans controller -- the player simply makes the appropriate physical movements with his or her body. Sony's presentation for its yet-unnamed motion technology was quite similar, with the same emphasis on physical movement as player input. Of course, the Nintendo Wii has been doing this for the last several years, and the company is further enhancing the Wii Remote's accuracy with 1:1 motion tracking through the use of add-on peripheral called Wii MotionPlus.

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Video Games

Wii 'Vitality Sensor' Aims to Analyze and Reduce Stress of Gamers



One of the announcements at Nintendo's E3 press conference last week concerned what the company is calling the Wii Vitality Sensor. The device attaches to the tip of the player's forefinger, measuring their vital signs and working them into gameplay (either alone or in conjunction with the Wii remote or other peripherals).

Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata explained that the new device will let players see the information relating to the "inner world" of his or her body, in order to achieve "greater relaxation".

The idea, like other biorhythm devices, will be to measure stress levels as dictated by the player's pulse; the application is of course relevant for Wii Fit exercise games, but can also be used for games involving meditation and relaxation, as well as to dynamically adjust difficulty and/or tension for any game that embraces the technology. "Maybe you will play a horror game and the sensor can tell how scared you are", Iwata suggested as one possibility.

No date or price were given for the device, so don't start holding your breath just yet.

Video Games

With Wii on Top, Nintendo Focuses on Good Games

Nintendo's Showings at E3 2009

Nintendo's Wii didn't get much respect when it was unveiled at E3 a few years back, but the Big N quickly silenced the critics when gamers worldwide bought every Wii they could get their hands on, out-pacing the competition by miles (it's now the number 1 console in the U.S. in terms of sales) and spawning something of a cultural phenomenon along the way. But, many of those gamers are now complaining that there aren't enough good games out for the system. Understandably, Nintendo focused on games at this week's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), which was held earlier this week in Los Angeles. Here are some of the great ones the company has on display.

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Video Games

Taking a Ride on Tony Hawk's New Wireless Skateboard

Getting Our Feet On the New Tony Hawk Ride
The 'Tony Hawk' franchise of skateboard games is one of the most popular and longest-running series of games in history. Lately, though, after ten iterations, it's become one of the most stale. That all changes with 'Tony Hawk Ride,' the upcoming release due this October that replaces all those fiddly button combos with a wireless skateboard that looks -- and more importantly -- acts like the real thing. We got a chance to try it out.

The controller is a black plastic wedge shaped like a skateboard, but it's thicker to accommodate some motion-sensors, AA batteries, and four infra-red cameras. The device lets you lean left and right to turn in the game and perform classic skate tricks like ollies, grinds, and kick flips just by moving the board. No, you never actually jump with it or flip it around, so living room injuries should be few, but it does simulate the feel of skateboarding. And yes, it requires some of the skill.

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Video Games

Queen Elizabeth Gets Golden Wii

Queen Elizabeth Gets Golden Wii
So let's say you're a video game company with a new release called "Big Family Games" to promote. You've decided it'd be a great gimmick to send the game to one of the world's most famous big families -- namely, the Royal Family of England. And, more specifically, to its matriarch Queen Elizabeth.

Of course, there is one problem with your plan -- the Queen doesn't have a Nintendo Wii. So, now you'll have to get Her Majesty a royal console, but wandering down to Wal-Mart to pick up the same Wii that every other schmuck has just isn't going to cut it. What to do?

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Audio/Video, Video Games

Rumored Xbox 360 Add-On to Allow Full Body Motion Control


Since the introduction of the Nintendo Wii and its continuously phenomenal financial success, rumors of similarly motion-controlled add-ons for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have repeatedly found their ways online. The latest news, coming from a tipster supposedly in the know, says that Microsoft will enter the motion arena not with a remote-like device such as that found on the Wii, but with a sensor bar that can detect full body movements as well as sound. This sensor bar is said to allow for broad movements, like kicking and punching, to more minuscule hand gestures, including pinching, scrolling, and grabbing. Video-conferencing capabilities are also said to be available, using the sensor bar's included camera.

Ironically, many of these rumored features, as forward-thinking as they sound, are quite old in concept. Sony actually implemented many of them with its EyeToy camera on the PlayStation 2, and refined them slightly for the PlayStation 3 with the PlayStation Eye. Fully-body detection with onscreen interaction, a camera for conferencing, and a built-in microphone are standard features with the EyeToy. What Sony's past venture lacks, though, is overall precision (particularly in uneven lighting situations) and compelling software. If Microsoft is able to dial the accuracy to Wii-like levels, and avoid producing simple novelty software, it might just have a chance at chipping away at Nintendo's market share. Head on over to Engadget for the full details. [From: Engadget]

Editor's Picks

The Daily Engadget: Game Boy Turns 20, Robot Theater, Jawbone Prime

Our friends over at Engadget obsessively cover everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics, which is why we've decided to compile a daily roundup of their top stuff (or, at least, what we think is tops). For more details on any of these stories, click on the Engadget links.


Meet Probo, the Huggable, Trauma(tic) Robot
Probo (pictured above) is a huggable Belgian robot designed to comfort children who have been through traumatic experiences. Unfortunately, this android (backed by Bill Gates and developed at the University of Brussels) might end up doing the opposite, especially when he's missing his skin. What's more, we can't decide if Probo looks drunk or deeply depressed when he's turned on. Neither seem to be of much use for cheering up kids. Check out the creepily awesome video here.


AT&T Hanging Up on CallVantage Phone Service
Sorry, AT&T CallVantage users, it looks like you're going to have to find another VoiP (Voice Over Internet) provider to convert those pretty voices to zeroes and ones (maybe Skype?). Yesterday, AT&T announced that it will discontinue its Internet phone service, and subscribers will have until the end of the year to switch to another AT&T service or find a new provider.

Nintendo Game Boy Turns 20
Boy, does it make us feel old to announce that Nintendo's Game Boy handheld game system just celebrated its 20th birthday. It seems like just yesterday we were jamming AA batteries into it and struggling through level after level of 'Tetris' on family road trips. In celebration of 20 great years of Nintendo handheld tradition (all the way up to last week's launch of the Nintendo DSi), Engadget dug up this great commercial for the original.




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Video Games

Netflix Expanding Out to Other Gaming Platforms?



We've heard whispers of Netflix heading to other, non-Xbox 360 game consoles before, and now adding to the susurrous is a job listing from the company for Engineering Lead - Gaming Platforms. The description calls for someone familiar with the technical hurdles of current-gen consoles for building a small team to "rapidly prototype and iterate on a variety of platforms." Whether or not this means we'll be seeing PlayStation 3 or Wii services in the near (or even distant) future is anyone's guess, but with Microsoft's version so far a streaming success, we wouldn't be surprised if the company took a few steps to increase the probability that 3 billionth delivered flick is digital.

[Via Joystiq]

Video Games

Remote Controlled Lawnmower Steered with a Wii Mote


Most of the times we see a Wii remote controlling something tangible, it's for something entertaining -- like an airsoft gun or Rovio. The Casmobot lawnmower, however, developed by scientists from the University of Southern Denmark, is actually quite useful if you loathe outdoor chores. You can steer it into grass-cutting action simply by tilting the Wii-mote, which is synced to the mower with Bluetooth. Alternatively, you can take the Casmobot for a lap around the border of the yard and then set it to autopilot in order to mow inside the designated zone. We wouldn't run in front of this thing while it's in motion, though; it's probably not as forgiving of interruption as a Roomba. Researcher Kjeld Jensen also suggested applying the same technology to your grandmother's wheelchair, but we really don't think she'd appreciate that. See it for yourself in the video after the break.

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Video Games

Nintendo Considering Video on Demand for the DS via the Wii?

Nintendo's Iwata wants DS video on-demand through the WiiNintendo's Wii, while thoroughly trouncing the competition in overall hardware sales, is way behind both the PS3 and Xbox 360 when it comes to media playback. Nintendo is about to take a step forward on that path with its Wii no Ma Channel, which will offer a variety of on-demand video, including cartoons and other family programming -- in other words lots and lots of Pokemon. Now, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata is indicating that he wants that video to come to the DS, too, saying, "If the Wii and the DS are connected, it should be possible to download video through the Wii and take it with you on the DS." He also said Nintendo is "going to do it differently in a Nintendo-like way." Given the way that Nintendo's handling of online play is "different" from the competition's, you can expect to be punching in 16-digit codes every time you get an urge to watch someone else catch 'em all. [Warning: Read link requires registration]

[Via Joystiq]

Video Games

'Wii Fit' Showing Up in Middle School Gyms

Wii Fit Showing Up in High School Gyms

We're still on the fence about whether or not the 'Wii Fit' could actually help you lose weight. Sure, swinging your arms around playing fun games like 'Wii Tennis' is one thing, but standing around on one foot and perfecting your balance? Most folks would get bored long before shedding any pounds.

But that's not stopping some New York City schools from adding the devices to their exercise regimen. The New York Post reports that the city's schools have enlisted 25 children in a pilot program to test the Wii Fit's effectiveness. The peripherals were, naturally, donated by Nintendo, which is undoubtedly intent on getting some publicity out of the deal, but thankfully the educators aren't diving into this head first. Lori Rose Benson, head of the Department of Education's Office of Fitness and Health Education, is still somewhat leery of the whole thing, primarily because of the cost involved and the limited amount of student engagement.

Would you entrust 'Wii Fit' with your kid's exercise regimen?


It seems to us that the devices could get children genuinely interested in their own fitness, even if they are less effective than other forms of exercise. Whether or not the 'Wii FIt' becomes a permanent fixture in school gyms remains to be seen, but you can be sure the kids are hoping it will. Now, let's just hope they don't have any accidents, as shown in the 'Wii-Mote' Disasters gallery below. [From: Gothamist]

[Thanks, Annabelle!]

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Video Games

WiiSpray Lets Virtual Taggers Spray Without Fear of the Man


When we first caught a whiff of the virtual aerosol action promised by Martin Lihs' thesis at Bauhaus University, dubbed WiiSpray, we were intrigued, but we never figured the end product would be this impressive. Lihs has since posted up a short teaser trailer showing the wall in action, controlled by a modified Wiimote controller, with results that should make even the most law-abiding artist smile. The video below shows an extensive color picker tool, interactive stencils, and what looks to be a perfectly accurate spray pattern -- and it should be, as the whole is getup is sponsored by Montana Cans. We're not sure what's next for this technology, but hopefully Lihs and his creation will be bombing a more public location soon.

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Video Games

Man Drops Dead While Playing 'Wii Fit'

Man Dies While Playing 'Wii Fit'
According to the British tabloid The Sun (we know, not the most reliable news source), the 'Wii Fit' can kill you in addition to helping you lose weight and have fun.

The fit and seemingly happy 25-year-old Norfolk, England native Tim Eves was with his girlfriend Emma Tuck and friend Lewis Hickin when, while jogging in place playing 'Wii Fit,' he dropped to his knees, collapsed, and died. Tuck and Hickin tried to revive Eves, but he was declared dead on arrival by the paramedics.

What's your favorite video game console?

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Video Games

AIG Logo Makes it Into New Wii Soccer Game


Apparently, the creators of Konami's new Wii soccer game didn't get the memo; stateside, 'AIG' has nearly become a four-letter word.

According to MTV's Multiplayer blog, in the introductory scene of 'Pro Evolution Soccer 2009,' those three infamous letters appear on the blue jerseys of the Manchester United, the British powerhouse that the corporation has sponsored of late. While this might get some U.S. players' hackles up, we can't really blame Konami. Just last week, the bailed-out corporation (which recently paid out $165 million in employee bonuses) shelled out an additional $28 million in order to sponsor the Manchester United through the 2010 season.

Surely, none of this is Konami's fault. However, we wouldn't be too surprised if some irate Wii-sters wound up putting their controllers through their TVs. After all, nobody asked us taxpayers if we wanted $28 million of our money going to a British soccer team. [From: Multiplayer]

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Weirdest Techie Heists and Scams

    Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
    When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.

     

    Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
    In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.

     

    Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
    Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.

     

    Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
    Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.

     

    17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
    When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.

     

    Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
    Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."

     

    Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
    Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?

     

Latest Reviews from CNET.com

CNET provides the latest tech news, unbiased reviews, videos, podcasts, software, and downloads, making tech products easy to find, understand and use.

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    Incredibly well-featured 7.1-channel receiver; excellent sound quality; three HDMI inputs; converts analog video to HDMI output; upconverts analog video to 720p/1080i HD resolution; iPod and USB MP3 player connectivity; Internet radio and MP3/WMA streaming audio via built-in Ethernet port; XM Satellite Radio compatible; touch-screen remote; multizone, multisource operation; browser-based control via home network; accurate autocalibration routine. Full Review

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    A minor specification update results in some significant performance gains; graphics upgrade an option on this 24-inch model; sleek, polished design didn't receive an update, but we won't start clamoring for a new design until the current one is at least 12 months old. Full Review

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